Glaucoma
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Zen Releaf
Medical Marijuana Specialist located in Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Glaucoma is a serious condition that affects more than 3 million Americans. While it’s more common in older people, this painful eye condition is found in everyone from babies to senior citizens. At Zen Releaf, Perry Hight, MD, has helped countless patients in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, reduce glaucoma-related symptoms like headaches and nausea with medical marijuana. To learn more about the medical marijuana program and how it can help your condition, call the office or use the online scheduler to book a consultation today.
Glaucoma Q & A
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an umbrella term for a group of diseases that affect your optic nerve. Your optic nerve is responsible for transmitting visual information from your eyes to your brain.
As the disease progresses, you start to develop blind spots in your field of vision. If left untreated, glaucoma can result in permanent vision loss or complete blindness.
What causes glaucoma?
Your eye has a clear fluid in front of the eyeball known as aqueous humor. This fluid normally drains through a mesh-like channel.
When that channel becomes blocked (for unknown reasons), the fluid collects in your eye and causes a build up of pressure on your optic nerve, or glaucoma.
You can also develop glaucoma after a blunt or chemical injury to your eye, a severe infection, inflammation, or a blocked blood vessel.
How do you diagnose glaucoma?
The test for glaucoma involves an exam to assess your field of vision. It may also involve a tonometry test to check your inner eye pressure.
Glaucoma often shows no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Regular eye tests are the best way to screen for glaucoma, especially for patients over the age of 35.
Other risk factors that increase your chances of developing glaucoma are:
- Family history
- Existing medical conditions
- Being Hispanic, Asian, or Black
- Bad eyesight
If you’re at a higher risk due to these factors, get a glaucoma test every 1-2 years.
How do you treat glaucoma?
The team at Zen Releaf can help lower the pressure in your eye and provide relief from painful glaucoma symptoms. Your doctor can prescribe one or more of the following treatments:
Glaucoma drops
These medicated eye drops help the fluid in your eye drain and decrease the amount of fluid your eye makes in order to lower the pressure on your optic nerve.
Oral medication
Oral medication also lowers the pressure in your eyes by blocking the production of fluid or helping to ensure the fluid drains from your eyes.
Medical marijuana
Studies show that marijuana can temporarily lower eye pressure, which is a key component to preserving your eyesight. The practice can provide marijuana in pill form if you prefer not to smoke it.
Treating glaucoma preserves your remaining eyesight, but it’s not possible to restore eyesight already compromised by the disease. It’s important to get regular screenings so your doctor can detect your glaucoma early and begin treatment.
To get treatment for your glaucoma at Zen Releaf, call the office or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment today.
